A Mondale High School parent is furious after she heard that the principal is allegedly forcing Covid-positive pupils to attend school.
Beverley Davids, from Westridge in Mitchells Plain, says her Grade 12 daughter was op haar nerves at school when she learnt that a fellow Grade 12 pupil attended class while being Covid-positive.
Beverley tells the Daily Voice: “This came to my attention on Tuesday, 17 August.
“My daughter’s class teacher was absent for about four days and he told the learners that he is Covid-positive.”
She says she kept her asthmatic daughter home because they did not know if anyone in her class might have been infected.
She says her daughter is stressed out: “They are forced to be at school even if they have Covid cases at home.
“It’s their final year and they don’t want to fail but they are being pressured to attend school.”
A teacher at the school, who asked to remain anonymous, says she fears for her life every day.
“We have no choice but to be in contact with the pupils who have been in contact with Covid cases.
“We can’t complain and need to comply with the principal’s rules.
“Here are parents who are afraid to keep their kids at home. It's true that pupils who have a Covid case at home, come to school and write in isolation, the isolated child must sit at the back in class.”
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says the school has denied the allegations.
“The school has confirmed that no learner was forced to come to write the tests. They were allegedly informed that they had the option to write the tests in isolation.
“The district has informed the school that learners cannot be given the option to write tests if they have tested positive.
“A Grade 12 learner can be absent with valid reason for these tests/examinations. Testing positive for Covid is a valid reason.”
venecia.america@inl.co.za